EP#138: Regional stewardship in action at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Our APS Reform in Action series returns with a deep dive into bringing stewardship to life in aged care across Australia’s regions.
In response to the Aged Care Royal Commission, the Australian Government invested over $13 million to tackle local challenges and service gaps in aged care through a local network of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing staff. Today, the network has an office in each capital city around Australia and nine regional offices, representing the department ‘on the ground’ to support the implementation of aged care reforms.
On this episode, host David Pembroke, CEO of contentgroup, is joined by Elsy Brammesan PSM, state manager, NSW/ACT branch and Rebecca McIlroy, acting state manager, WA/SA team at Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, to shine a light on the work of the local network as an extraordinary example of regional stewardship in practice. Together, they canvas the initial pilot project across 8 primary healthcare networks in Australia, and how it has changed aged care policy, service delivery, and local engagement.
Key tips
- Trust doesn’t grow overnight. Investing time upfront will get you better outcomes further down the road
- If you want to be a good steward, you need local knowledge – engage where it matters most
- Implement weekly conversations and regular training with your staff about the challenges they face in embodying stewardship.
guest
Elsy Brammesan PSM
Elsy Brammesan, state manager, NSW/ACT branch has worked in Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for the last 14 years (including 2 years with Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission). Elsy has been involved in aged care regulation extensively for the last 14 years.
In 2019, Elsy was awarded a Public Service Medal for her significant contributions to aged care policy development and reform. Elsy has a masters in rehabilitation and a masters in gerontology. Elsy is passionate about quality of life for all Australians.
Rebecca McIlroy
Rebecca McIlroy is a seasoned executive with 23 years of experience within the Australian Public Service – currently as acting state manager for the WA/SA team within the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Her expertise spans legislative frameworks, stakeholder engagement, compliance, rural and remote operations and policy development.
With a strong passion for education and developing solutions to ‘wicked’ problems, Rebecca aims to drive meaningful change across diverse sectors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is dedicated to delivering strategic and impactful outcomes in the public service.